Urban & Community Conservation

By NACD Communications Manager Sara Kangas As spring concludes and summer finally arrives, you're likely seeing more critters around your garden hard at work. Today marks the beginning of National Pollinator Week, an annual event to raise awareness of the animals and invertebrates that make our ecosystems function. In addition to graphics on NACD's social…… Continue reading →

Caring for the canopy is a top priority of Winooski Natural Resources Conservation District (WNRCD). With 47 municipalities under its jurisdiction, WNRCD’s efforts have led to a collaboration with the Vermont Monitoring Cooperative (VMC), the University of Vermont Rubenstein School of the Environment (UVM), and the city of Winooski to support the city’s efforts to…… Continue reading →

In partnership with the city of Flint, Mich., Genesee Conservation District (GCD) is bringing urban forests back to a healthy state and educating residents in the process. “One of the best benefits that has come out of this partnership is the response from residents,” GCD senior conservation coordinator Jeffrey Johnson said. “They are excited. The…… Continue reading →

By Jessica Buck, Montgomery County Conservation District Agricultural Conservation Specialist Montgomery County Conservation District (MCCD) in Pennsylvania recently launched their first outreach and technical assistance program to farms and gardens in urban communities through NACD’s 2017 Urban Agriculture Conservation grant program. This opportunity helped to establish long-lasting partnerships among community organizations and yielded meaningful outcomes…… Continue reading →

By Kerry Rickrode The Hillsborough County Conservation District (HCCD) serves the most populous county in New Hampshire and several refugee resettlements. Recently, HCCD launched a new initiative to provide technical assistance to these new Americans, who want to grow their own food, but aren't familiar with farming in colder climates or urban settings. [caption id="attachment_10879" align="alignright"…… Continue reading →

By Jesse Soule Dedicated to supporting agricultural producers in any way possible, the Jefferson Conservation District (JCD) in Colorado provides technical assistance and educational resources to a variety of urban farms, ranging from cut-flower production to animal husbandry, through its urban agriculture program. [caption id="attachment_10873" align="alignright" width="606"] JCD interns are pictured here assisting a local micro-farmer. The…… Continue reading →

By Sara Kangas Each fall, the U.S. Water Alliance asks us to “Imagine a Day Without Water." Tomorrow, October 12, is that time to reflect - how much do you value water? When Americans go to brush their teeth, shower, or fill their coffee pot, they expect clean, safe water to flow from their taps.…… Continue reading →

Guest column provided by Corrina Parnapy In observance of the Environmental Protection Agency's SepticSmart Week - September 18-22, 2017 – conservation districts nationwide are discussing septic systems and how they can help landowners use them sustainably. Septic systems - made up of a tank and absorption field - are effective methods for treating wastewater. The…… Continue reading →

Guest column by Lindsay Cameron [caption id="attachment_9773" align="alignright" width="263"] Sister Carlene running a bobcat to move soil into raised beds at Corinthian Baptist Church.[/caption] “The one thing I need here is a grocery store” is often heard on the south side of urban Fairbanks, Alaska - an area designated a food desert by USDA. In an…… Continue reading →